By Justin Chadwick
West Coast appear destined to collect this year’s AFL wooden spoon after North Melbourne produced a late four-goal burst to snatch a thrilling 10-point victory in Bunbury.
The wayward Eagles kicked 1.13 across the first two and a half quarters of Sunday’s match before finally hitting their groove to surge to an 18-point lead early in the final term.
North Melbourne had been error-riddled and looked one-dimensional until that point, but exploded with the final four goals of the match – including two to Cameron Zurhaar – to secure the 9.8 (62) to 6.16 (52) win.
Finn O’Sullivan started the four-goal run when he made the most of a 50m penalty to kick truly, before Zurhaar kicked his first of the match to make it a six-point game with nine minutes remaining.
West Coast clung on dearly for the next seven minutes until Zurhaar took a brave pack mark to give North the lead.
Captain Jy Simpkin iced the win with a running snap in the final 45 seconds.
The result means North Melbourne (3-8-1) are now two and a half wins ahead of last-placed West Coast (1-12).
Two late goals from Cameron Zurhaar helped secure North Melbourne’s 10-point win over the Eagles; Jack Williams (far right) kicked West Coast’s first goal, finishing the match with two majors.Credit: AAP
Richmond (3-10) are two wins clear of the Eagles.
Not only did North Melbourne snare the win, but they will also collect a cool $1 million for “hosting” the match in Bunbury, a coastal town two hours drive south of Perth.
It’s part of a three-year deal in which North Melbourne will play two home games a season in WA, including next week’s clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
The only downer for North Melbourne out of Sunday’s match was a game-ending injury to defender Charlie Comben, who was subbed out in the third quarter after copping a painful knee to the shoulder in a marking contest.
Paul Curtis kicked three goals for North Melbourne, while Tristan Xerri was huge in the ruck with 37 hitouts, 10 clearances and 22 disposals.
Former Eagle Jack Darling was held scoreless from 10 disposals.
Eagles co-captain Liam Duggan tallied a team-high 23 disposals, Elijah Hewett racked up 22 disposals and six clearances, while forward Jack Williams kicked two goals.
North Melbourne kicked the only three goals of the opening quarter – including two to Curtis – despite losing the inside-50 count 21-10.
West Coast’s 0.5 was a poor return for a quarter they dominated, with Archer Reid’s close-range shocker summing up their ineptitude in front of goal.
The Eagles had 0.8 to their name and had just entered their forward-50 arc for a staggering 34th time when Williams finally broke the goal drought with a close-range set shot late in the second quarter.
The goal reduced the margin to seven points at halftime, with North holding the lead despite being pummelled 39-17 in the inside-50 count.
West Coast had a woeful 1.13 to their name before producing a 4.1 spurt to finish the third quarter.
But just as the game looked won for the Eagles, North hit back hard in a thrilling finish.
AAP
